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Florissant council approves $108,000 police forfeiture transfer after public questions about DNA testing
Summary
The Florissant City Council voted to move $108,000 in police forfeiture funds to a police expenditures account. Residents asked for details about DNA testing and furniture purchases; councilors said the police chief can provide specifics.
The Florissant City Council voted Monday to transfer $108,000 in police forfeiture funds to a police expenditures account, a move council members said will pay for various police needs including investigative testing and office furnishings.
The transfer, introduced as Bill No. 10032, moved $108,000 from account 71326701000 (forfeiture escrow) to account 10156001201 (police forfeiture expenditures). Councilman Shildroff moved the bill for third reading, Councilman Caputo seconded and a roll-call vote recorded unanimous approval; the ordinance was listed as No. 9029.
Council members and residents said the public needed more detail on how specific line items would be spent. During public comment, resident Jupen Lee asked about genetic testing and the scale of planned expenditures, saying, “Now we can ask police department gene test too?” Councilman Egan replied, “it’s my understanding that they’ll use that in an investigative manner to solve cases… some of those are by private labs and we’re just paying for those.”
Another audience member, Lauren Hoyt, asked whether the DNA work would be handled by the police department or sent elsewhere: “so there’s just gonna be a brain check that’s gonna be going to the police? We don’t know where it’s truly going?” Mayor Timothy J. Lowery said the funds were forfeiture monies (not drawn from the city’s general fund) and that department leadership could give a fuller accounting.
Mayor Lowery added that some of the expense line items reflect remodeling and office moves inside the police department, saying the chief is “moving some personnel from different offices, and he’s putting the lieutenants in an office together. So he’s…trying to accommodate some moves … which will require… office furniture to be bought.” Council representatives offered to have the police chief, Chief Fagan, follow up with residents who requested detail.
The council record shows no amendments to the bill during the meeting. The roll call recorded affirmative votes by council members present; the motion carried and Bill No. 10032 became Ordinance No. 9029.
